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Was Sasanka a Jaina in his Early Life?
CHITTARANJAN PAL
Some historians do not regard Arya-mañjuśrī-mūla-kalpa as a genuine historical work. But it is undeniable that the book contains Buddhist traditions prevailing at the time of the composition of the book.
It is from this book that we come to know that Sasanka, king of Gauda, persecuted the Nirgranthas or the Jainas along with the followers of Gautama Buddha. It seems that the persecutionary measure adopted against the Jainas was not less severe than that taken against the Buddhists. Arya-mañjuśri-mula-xalpa, being a Buddhist work dwelt only upon the persecutions suffered by the Buddhists. But the story of the sufferings of the Nirgranthas or the Jainas was dismissed in a single sentence.
Regarding the nature of the book, it is to be remembered that all sorts of traditions and stories, even if contradictory, have been accommodated in this book of stupendous size. Examples are not wanting to prove this point of view.
The author of the book has painted the kings of the Pusyabhuti dynasty in the brightest colour. As regards the death of Rajyavardhana, elder brother of Harsavardhana, the author of Arya-mañjuśrī-mūla-kalpa states that the prince died at the hands of"a king belonging to the nagnajäti or 'naked caste'.
bhavisyate ca tadākāle madhyadese nṛpovarah rakāradyotayuktātmā vaiśyavṛttimacañcalah[] Jāsanesmim tathā ŝakta somākhya samo nṛpah| so'pi yāti tavāṇtena nagnajāti nṛpena tu[]
The passage as translated by K. P. Jayswal runs as follows:
At that time will arise in Madhyadesa, the excellent king R (Rajyavardhana), brilliant, self possessed, of the vaisya-caste and steady. He (will be) of this religion and (will be) as powerful as Soma (Sasanka). He also ends at the hands of a king of the nagna-caste.
The word nagnajāti nṛpena may be translated as "The king of the naked-caste'.
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